Hey new to satellite

[focus36]

Hello guys, having a headache with my setup, but here to find help if that's ok
'
Thanks

Focus36

 

[Mickha]

Can you please post more detailed information, regarding your satellite set up, and the problem.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Is it actually yours, or something under contract ?

 

[focus36]

hey yes its mine, on the isle of lewis, got a 1.2 raven dish, superjack actuator polar mount, struggling to find thor as i guess this would be the best satellite to use to set the dish to on the initial satellite, the inclination and declination fry me head, thought it would be easier than this but i guess i was wrong

 

[Mickha]

You need to find your Latitude, and Longitude, you can use sites like dishpointer.com, to find these.
Negative Longitude values = West, I get the Isle of Lewis providing a Longitude of -6.66, which equates to 6.66 West, but you can find a more accurate reading, for your exact location.
The Longitude is your true south position, which is where you try to align your dish.
If using USALS you can set everything up, enter your Latitude, and Longitude positions, into your receiver, and instruct the receiver to send the dish to 0.8W, or other satellite, and then physically align your dish, on that satellite.

You really should get a cheap satellite meter, even one for under £10, probably available at a local DIY shop, as this makes finding a satellite a lot easier.

 

[a33]

Welcome to the forum, focus36!

For a fried head: See a docter!
For problems with dishes: What are your questions? What is declination/elevation; or what angles should you use on isle of lewis?
Or do you want support, that yes the first dish setup and the first motorized setup are usually the hardest....

@Mods: Maybe this thread will fit better in the subforum 'DISH SETUP'? MOD NOTE - Done!

Greetz,
A33

 

[focus36]

ok yes initial setup is the problem, can i get thor up here? on a 1.2m dish? seem to be able to signals, i do have a signal meter, I have the lat & long int the receiver, yes what angles do i need to go too?

Thanks

 

[Mickha]

You usually set up on your nearest true south satellite, which in most of the UK is 0.8W, your True South is nearer 7 West, as your Longitude is close to 6.66 West.
Do you have the cheap signal meter, as in my attached photo?
You must use this correctly, as you can get a signal even if the dish is pointing at the ground.
You first set the signal meter to it's lower setting, by turning the knob, until it reads about 5, you then gently move the dish, East, or West, until it reds 10, then turn the knob, until it reads 5, and move the dish again, until it reads 10, you do this until you get the maximum signal, the adjust the declination, until the meter reads 10. adjust it to read 5, then keep doing this until you get the strongest signal possible.
You then scan in channels, on your receiver, to find out which satellite you're aligned to.

 

[a33]

For calculating more or less exact motor angles, your exact latitude must be used. So what are your LAT and LONG?

As you have an actuator, that doesn't work with USALS. So setting up Lat and Long in your receiver is of little use, alas.
greetz,
A33

 

[focus36]

not so sure i would like give exactly where i live out on here tbh

Thanks

 

[a33]

Well, for a guestimated latitude of 58,00*:
Modified axis elevation = 31,42*
Modified declination offset angle = 7,35*
So total dish elevation due south = 24,07*, without taking into account the offset angle of your dish (is it an offset?).

These 'modified angles' follow the arc almost perfectly, so that finetuning after initial setup is hardly necessary (as opposed to the 'traditional angle values').
So not knowing your latitude means, that with these values you might not be perfectly on the arc.

The above calculation is done for 'spherical' earth, using 'mean' earth radius, so in reality the results could be a few hundredths of degrees off.

greetz,
A33

 

[focus36]

ok yes it is an offset dish, i think its an 22.5 degree ish, and i suppose i can give you the exact Latitude: 58.2440° just not both

Thanks

 

[a33]

For a latitude of 58,2440* (that is very exact! ) :
Modified axis elevation = 31,18*
Modified declination offset angle = 7,37*
So total dish elevation due south = 23,81*, with an offset angle of 22,5 the dish face elevation should be at 1,31*

NB Setting the total dish elevation by the dish face-method assumes the LNBfeedhorn really is in the correct offset angle to the dish.
If you're not sure of that, you can check the actually used offset angle of your dish+arm by tuning the dish to a satellite with known elevation angle (see e.g. dishpointer.com), and measuring the dish face elevation. The difference is the used offset angle. (For that test, the polar axis must be turned in the zero (due south) position, of course!)

Hope this helps getting your angles right!

greetz,
A33

 

[focus36]

ok that's great will give it go, maybe not today but hopefully friday

thanks again

will get back to you with great results hopefully ;)

 

[dmaavrigdo]

ok yes it is an offset dish, i think its an 22.5 degree ish, and i suppose i can give you the exact Latitude: 58.2440° just not both

Thanks

58.244 is way south of Lewis.

 

[focus36]

Hey dmaavrigdo, thats what dishpointer.com gives me m8

Thanks

 

[a33]

For aiming due south: dishpointer.com might be of help to find an aiming point on the map.

Also the sun exactly behind (fictional) due south satellite is very helpful (you just need sunshine at the right time of day): I use Satellite Look Angle Calculator

A33

 

[PaulR]

Using Dispointer the very northernmost point is 58.5146° and the southernmost point (in the Harris part) is 57.7331° so it's entirely possible.

 

[Analoguesat]

Make sure the 1.2m dish is extremely well bolted down to something immovable. The wind loading on a 1.2m dish are immense in gales. In such a gale lashed area be wary of bolting to a house wall - its not unknown for dishes to pull house walls down in gales!

If you can get it somewhere with a bit of shelter so much the better.

 

[focus36]

Hey Guys, been a while i been messing with this dish on and off, i set the dish to 7W or as near as i thought it was moving it a bit then checking signal on the eastern arc, i get signal from 5west i get signal from 28.2E, 13E, more tweaking required i guess, so i am wondering what satellites am actually going to be able to get signal from here? and there's a couple of pics of the dish only temp wiring i know its loose all over lol